5 Quick Things #331 ๐
unstructured play, self-confidence, universal homemaking, & resurrected Sharpies
Hey there,
Today is our official last day of homeschooling in our home, and we are so very eagerโฆ The boys are giving history presentations this weekend, theyโve written essays and narration paragraphs galore, and theyโve finished reading the books and filling the commonplace journals. Cue the confetti: we. are. DONE! And phewโฆ What a roller coaster of a school year this was for us. A good one, but a challenging one. Lots of growth for every member of our clan.
Bring on the swimming holes, garden tomatoes, and thick poolside novels!

5 Quick Things โ๏ธ
1. Iโve been a big believer in free-range parenting from day one, and now that my oldest is almost out of her teen years, I can look back and say Iโm glad we made the choices we made. Whenever I was nervous about a potentially risky decision weโd make about what weโd allow our kids to do, I reminded myself of the Scandinavian proverb, โThe safest place for a child is five feet high in a tree.โ
wrote a fantastic piece unpacking her thoughts on the benefits of free-range parenting: โItโs countercultural these days to let your kids play freely outside. It just is. So at first, people might think youโre weird. It definitely takes a boldness, but you gotta get out there. Be friendly. Hold the vision. โฆKids may also take time to adjust to unstructured play. Many kids are used to a lot of stimulation and schedules (being told what to do when), so this type of vibe can be a change! Be patient and let them be bored.โ2.ย Homes are places we make โย that is, we can decide a particular place is where we store our stuff, however temporary, or we can decide that a particular place will be declared Our Home and make it thus. I loved Mary Grace Manganoโs piece on our universal ache for home, why weโre all called to the work of homemaking, and why it is just that โย hard work: โIn a sense, we all need to think of ourselves as homemakers, even if our primary work is outside the home. We should all be people who are โlooking after our home.โ In our communitiesโour workplaces, schools, churches, neighborhoodsโwe make homes by looking after them. When we take time to know the people in these places and look after them, we will find ourselves at home. This kind of love and attention requires real work.โ
3. Self-confidence is underrated, and I like
โs straightforward advice on how to develop more of it: โTo tap into it, you need to: 1. Think about 1-2 things you are already good at (if you canโt, try to remember what other people say to you about the things you are good at). 2. Do these things more. 3. Feel the energy of soaring on the wings of enthusiasm.โ4. The Theology of the Body might be one of Pope St. JPIIโs most gracious gift to the modern world โย and yet itโs so full and so thorough that itโs often โฆintimidating. Iโm excited, therefore, about Fr. Mike Schmitzโs new, short video series unpacking the TOB. Heโs got a gift for explaining things in plain language, so Iโm eager to hear what he has to say about our โmodern anthropology.โ
5. And finally, I typically side-eye most online listicles, but most of these life hacks were legitimately new to me. (Iโm going to try #18 and #31 this weekendโฆ)
Currently Reading, Watching, Listening ๐ป
Last yearโs Summer Chill playlist (I still gotta make this yearโs summer mixtape)
Quotable ๐ฌ
โThere are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you, and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.โ
-Lemony Snicket
Whatโs the ideal Motherโs Day gift? ๐
I know not everyone here is a mother, but all were invited to answer this question because really, itโs more about which option sounds like the most pleasant surprise. As always, it depends on the day as to my answer, but right now, Iโm going with a clean house I didnโt clean (*stares at floor underneath my feet that desperately needs mopping*).
A clean house you didnโt clean: 35.7%
Good food you didnโt cook: 32.1%
For everyone to get along: 11.5%
A nap: 7.2%
Something from your wish list: 6.9%
Something homemade: 6.5%
Find this weekโs poll here.
Quick Links ๐
Question(s) For You to Ponderโฆ ๐ค
What decision are you making more complicated than it is? What virtue do you need to roll up your sleeves and make the choice?
Have a good weekend,
- Tsh
p.s. I legit love this dream (and the replies that follow).
Love Fr. Mike. I slow the audio speed down to listen to him bc he talks SOOO fast tho.
Ha! The โIโll allow itโ meme โ bastion of transitional season parenting everywhere.